KNU ceasefire meeting with government behind schedule

The Karen National Union said they are unsure if they will be able to meet the 45-day time frame agreed to with the Burma government during the last ceasefire meeting.

Naw Zipporah Sein, general secretary of the KNU spoke to Karen News.

“We are not sure if we can meet with Burma government this [February] month. At the moment, we haven’t yet finalized our delegation for the next meeting. We might be ready to meet them March.”

Ms. Sein said that the KNU has been holding meetings and discussions at every level of its administration before they will meet again with the Burma government.

The KNU’s peace talk delegation met with Burma government representatives on January 12 at Hpa-an town in Karen State where the KNU had reached to an preliminary ceasefire agreement with the State level government, and agreed to meet with central level government representatives within 45 days.

During the initial ceasefire period, Burma army troops have yet to withdraw from KNU controlled areas in Brigade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The Burma Army also has continued to reinforce its troop numbers and to re-supply its soldiers with munitions and food supplies.

The KNU doesn’t disclose any detail reasons of why they can’t meet with government within the 45 days.

On February 8th to 10th , the KNU organized a two day workshop location on the border where participants included officials from KNU’s administration, army officers and leaders from Karen community based organization to discuss ‘political dialogue’.

An army officer who attended the workshop spoke to Karen News.
“We discuss in every detail about our 11 key points that we’ve raised to the government. The workshop is also a preparation for the coming meeting so it is useful.”

The KNU has been struggling for equal right and self-determination since January 31, 1949 and has been fighting against the various Burma military regimes that have dominated Burma for more than 60-years. On January 12th, 2012 was the first time, the KNU had signed an initial ceasefire agreement.